Overview & Reviews

Toyota is a Japanese brand whose refined, well-designed vehicles have earned it a great deal of popularity. Toyotas also have a superb record for reliability and durability, which goes a long way toward justifying their typically high purchase prices. For buyers who plan on owning their new vehicles for a long time, the Toyota marque is a very compelling choice.

The automaker's name is a variation of the surname of its founder, Kiichiro Toyoda. After years of research, Toyoda unveiled his first prototype, the A1, in 1935, marking the birth of the Toyota Motor Corporation. The '40s witnessed the launch of additional passenger cars and even a pickup. By the end of the decade, the automaker had produced more than 100,000 vehicles.

Toyota grew bigger in the '50s and expanded its roster with a slew of new small cars. The company also unveiled the utilitarian BJ truck; this vehicle was the precursor to the Land Cruiser. By the end of the decade, Toyota had commenced exports to the U.S. with the establishment of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. The first Toyota to be sold on American shores was the Crown; it held the distinction of being the first Japanese car to be sold Stateside.

The '60s witnessed even more growth for the emerging juggernaut. Toyota introduced the Corolla, an immensely popular model that is still in production today. Vehicles like the home-market Publica, the 2000GT, Hiace and Miniace were also launched. The decade closed with Toyota reporting annual domestic sales of 1 million units; cumulative exports also reached 1 million.

Japanese-market cars like the Carina, Light Ace and Publica Starlet were launched during the 1970s. In the States, the Corolla grew in popularity and the Corona and Mk II models debuted as well. The successful Celica sports coupe was also rolled out and would remain in production for more than 30 years. Toyota's shadow had spread far beyond Japan by this point. The decade's oil crisis had made the manufacturer's compact, fuel-efficient models more popular than ever in the United States. By the time the '70s drew to a close, the automaker had exported more than 10 million vehicles.

Toyota expanded its presence in the U.S. market during the '80s, with the introduction of popular models like the 4Runner SUV and the MR2 sports car. The true high point of these years, though, was the birth of the Toyota Camry sedan. Originally known as the Celica Camry in Japan, the car went on to be a hit of phenomenal proportions, earning kudos as America's best-selling car of the year time and time again.

During the '90s, Toyota rolled out the Avalon full-size sedan and expanded its selection of SUVs with the compact RAV4. By the end of the decade, more than 100 million Toyota vehicles had been produced in Japan. The company also proved itself on the cutting edge of new technology with the rollout of the Prius, the world's first mass-produced hybrid. The car debuted in Japan in 1997; by 2001, the fuel-sipping sedan had made its way to American highways. Despite the presence of a growing number of competitors in its segment, the Prius continues to boast class-leading sales.

Toyota's current lineup is relatively extensive, including minivans, cars, trucks and SUVs. The brand remains extremely popular among savvy consumers who place a high value on quality and dependability.

User Reviews:

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  TRD needs more parts for this car - 2001 Toyota Corolla
  By Jun Lee - December 7 - 2:00 am

  the S model is nice. the interior is nice also. TRD does need to make more parts for the car and so does the aftermaket companies. if toyota would target the teenagers more like honda, and their civic, maybe there would be more things in the works.

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  Camry Review - 1999 Toyota Camry
  By Emmy - December 7 - 2:00 am

  We leased this car in 1998, had to return it to the dealer in 2001, then bought it back in 2002 because we missed it so much.

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  Buy It - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By meisterbob - December 7 - 2:00 am

  Have less than 1000 mile on it but I want to give you my opinion. Buy this car. The quality can not be touched by Ford or Chevy. Thats it.

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  A REAL JOY - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By MICKEY - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I HAVE MY CAMRY NOW ABOUT 10 DAYS. THERE IS NOTHING NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THIS CAR.LEXUS QUIET,GREAT 6CD CHANGER,BUTT WARMERS OUT OF SIGHT AND MADE TO LAST FOREVER. THE ONLY PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WITH THE AM BAND OF THE RADIO, WHICH IS FULL OF STATIC. I WONDER IF THE WINDOW ANTENNA IS THE PROBLEM OR JUST A LOOSE CONNECTION. FIRST TANK GOT ME 30 MPG

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  Close to perfection - 2002 Toyota Camry
  By far_star - December 7 - 2:00 am

  I considered Toyota Camry for the reliability. The concerns about bland styling left me when I saw one and said "Is this really a Camry?" It looked so darn good. From the numbers, the Camrys solid. Ive owned it for a while and love the luxurious feel. The car is quiet beyond belief and the smooth ride is wonderful. Breaking is good. The XLE offers more features than I can count. My 4 cyl version is suprisingly powerful. My boss drove it she said, "So you got the 6 cyl huh?" She was shocked to learn it was a 4 cyl. Overall this car rocks ! Who says that this vehicle is for the over 40 crowd. I am in my 20s and am prowd to own it. I am liking this car more each day I drive it.

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  fun loving car - 2007 Toyota Corolla
  By melissa - December 7 - 12:36 am

  i love it! It is awesome! My kids loveit. It drives great and handles well. Great car for the price. Iplan on having this car for a long time. thanks very much.

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  Low cost and fun too - 2002 Toyota Prius
  By Mike Hahn - December 6 - 9:16 pm

  I love my Prius. I will never buy another automobile. I have been in the mountains of West Virginia and North Carolina, and the plains of Illinois and have never had a problem. I just do the oil changes and tires and enjoy the ride. I average 48-55 mpg and have gotten up to 62 mpg in the city. What a feeling!!! Toyota!!!

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  Great car! - 2014 Toyota Corolla
  By kfilly - December 6 - 7:46 pm

  Pros: Comfortable, fuel efficient, roomy for a compact car, quiet, LED headlights are great, Entune system is easy to use/has good sound quality, back up camera, visibility, automatic climate control. Cons: Sun visor is short and does not telescope, CVT transmission is a little sluggish from a stop due to somewhat high starting ratio, not very sporty handling. I am 511" and I can comfortably sit in the rear seat behind where I place the driver seat. I am getting mileage slightly better than advertised on my LE. The car rides nice. Five adults for short trips only as the back seat is narrow. People over 6 will have little headroom in the rear seat.

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  Buy It You Will Like It! - 2006 Toyota Corolla
  By Pauldo - December 6 - 8:33 am

  Without a doubt, this is one of the best Toyota products I have ever purchased in the past 35 years. I have owned many Toyotas as well as one Honda and this car by far is outstanding. The build quality and features for the money are worth every the price. The double air tight insulation is also great as road noise is not heard. This 2006 Toyota S is just as quiet as my 1999 Toyota Camry which is a very quiet car.

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  Love it! - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Bob C - December 6 - 8:00 am

  After three weeks, this has been my best new car experience. I am very pleased with the car. It compares favorably to an Audi A6 I drove recently, and is roughly two thirds the price.